French police have used batons and pepper spray to clear Catalan independence activists who have been blocking a motorway between France and Spain in the hope of bringing the Spanish government to the negotiating table.

The protest, which had been due to last three days, was called by Tsunami Democràtic, an anonymous pro-independence group which co-ordinated the blockade of Barcelona-El Prat airport last month.

Catalan pro-independence groups have been actively protesting following the sentencing of nine high-profile independence leaders for sedition.